Process for making feldspar flux.



" ments in methods of preparing feldsp UNITEDSTATES Parana onmon FRED M. LOCKE,-OF VICTOR, NEW YORK.

rno'cnss ma,

I Application filed February To all tvhom it may concern:

.-Be a known that I, FRED M. Loom, 'of

in the manufacture of high potential porcelain insulators in which homogeneity, 'me- .chanical strength and electrical resistance are essential requirements.

, Heretofore in the preparation of feldspar flux ithas been customary to grind the-hat ural feldspar to afine power before firing or and ,then adding such powder to the materiallto be fluxed or vitrified, but I have I discovered-that if the feldspar isfirst fired or fused, it'is more easily ground, and maybe more rapidly converted into a flux under a less degree of heat than is required to con vert the same material when reduced to a,

powder before firing or fusin I have discovered that after fusing the feldspar it becomes extremely cellular, owing undoubtedly to the escapeof the. gases and foreign matter, leaving the fused material 'with innumerable minute cells which disap pear in grinding, so that-reduced to a powder and used as a'flux for porcelain and similar material, it produces an inherent homogeneity which is greatly superior to that produced by flux which is only fused in the mixture. This superior tenacity o'r homogeneity gives to'the porcelain body ahigh degree mechanical strength and impenetrability by high otential' electric currents and'therefore, ma es the porcelain valuable asan insulator for high potential electric conductors, especially where these insulators are subjected towidely varying climaticchanges and severe mechanical and electrical strains.

The firing or fusing of the feldspar before grinding brings the fluxing properties closer together and makes it more easily broken up in the grinding-process. The grindingfproc- Specification of Letters Patent.

for Making Feldire FnnnsPAn' FLUX.

Patented Sept. 1', 18208. 6, 1906. Serial No. 299,780.

ess eliminates from the fused feldspar the gether thepartic'l'es of kaolin and silica toresist puncture or disintegration from high potential electric currents. It is equally desirable inthe'manufacture of metal in ots and in other associations 'or mixtures w ere the feldspars may be useful. l

The princi oal part of my inventions lies in firing or fusing.

may add a suitable'amount of alkali or lime to increase its difiusive power, and in view of the fact that the feldspar already contains a greater or less amount of alkali or lime, but may be insufiicient for the purposes required, my purpose is simply to add or increase such amount to bring the flux to a condition suitable for the use to which it isintended'.

My improved process, therefore, consists broadly in first, firing or fusing the feldspar, cooling the same and then grinding this fired or fused mass eitherwith or without the addition of an alkali or lime, ready for use as a flux with any material, such as porcelain or molten metal for causing a more homogeneous or cohesive knitting of the particles to-' gether, thereby producing a denser body than can'be produced by grinding the feldspar-before firin or. fusing.

What I claim: i

1. The method of preparing feldspar flux to be used in the manufacture of high potential porcelain insulators, said method consisting in melting, fusing and cooling the feldspar and then grindin it to a fine powder.

2. The herein escribed method of produc inga feldspar flux to be used in the manufaccellular-condition, which would otherwise be included in the porcelain bodyifit were used without fusing and grinding and therefore. makes a stronger flux for closely knitting to- In the manufacture'of this feldspar flux I the fusing or bring of feldspar and grinding bewife of high potential ine' ziators, consisting lators consisting of finely comminuted we in :u' 'st firing the feldspar to the melting oint viously melted feldspar. l9 and then eoohng and reducing it to 'a .l nely In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my eommimited condition. hand this 29th day of January 1906.

5 3. Agroduet of the herein prescribed proe- FRED M, LOCKE.

ess, sai product consistin' of finely pow- Witnesses: 1 deified previously melted fel spar. W. A. HIGINBOTHAM,

4. A flux for high potential porcelain insu- C. A. MOORE. 

